Ah, our new, super-civil politics. No longer will cross-hairs be threateningly wielded or presidents' birth certificates be questioned. Rejoice! Our national discourse now rises to the level of fragrant poetry. Except when a Democratic congressman compares Republicans to Nazis.

Because of the shooting in Arizona, all politicians from now on are supposed to conduct themselves with grace and dignity, as if swathed in white robes, roaming the ancient Athenian forum itself. Except here's the beginning of the New York Times'account of Wednesday's fake vote to repeal Obama's health care bill:

After a typically insane floor debate, for which Rep. Anthony Weiner made drinking game…
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the floor fight over the bill to repeal the health care overhaul - predetermined both to pass the House and ultimately fail to become law - by and large demonstrated the ability of Republicans and Democrats to debate a public policy matter civilly.

The exceptions and the more openly provocative statements came mostly from the Democratic side. Late Tuesday night, Representative Steve Cohen, Democrat of Tennessee, denounced Republican talking points on the law as akin to Nazi propaganda.

"They say it's a government takeover of health care, a big lie just like Goebbels," Mr. Cohen said. "You say it enough, you repeat the lie, you repeat the lie, you repeat the lie and eventually, people believe it.

Rep. Steve Cohen! Did you not get the memo? Ixnay on the oebbels-gay.

To be fair, the heated rhetoric trip is a hard one to kick. We would suggest Cohen ease off it slowly, lest he relapse. Maybe instead of Nazi analogies, try comparing your opponents to less-evil entities, like Sudoku enthusiasts. Or just take it out on your dog; chase it around the yard calling it Stalin.